Palestinians live at a United Nations school where dozens of families have sought refuge after fleeing their homes following recent Israeli airstrikes in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza Strip.

UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. secretary-general said Tuesday it is his “hope and belief” that his emergency mission to the Middle East will lead to an end to the fighting between Hamas and Israel “in the very near future.”

Ban Ki-moon told the Security Council by videoconference from the West Bank city of Ramallah that he could not publicly reveal details “at this highly sensitive moment.” As he started to address the council a siren could be heard in the background.

The U.N. chief has also visited Qatar, Kuwait, Cairo and Jerusalem and said he will go on to Jordan and Saudi Arabia on what he called a mission “of solidarity and peace” to quickly end an escalating two-week war between Israelis and Hamas militants who control the Gaza Strip. Their third conflict in about five years has already claimed the lives of at least 609 Palestinians, the vast majority civilians, and 29 Israelis — 27 soldiers and two civilians.

In the last three days Ban has met with the head of the Arab League and Arab, Palestinian and Israeli leaders as well as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Norway’s foreign minister. He also spoke to French President Francois Hollande.

“Suffice it to say, it is my hope and belief that these talks will lead to results and an end to the fighting in the very near future,” Ban said.

He cautioned, however, that “of course there are many obstacles and complexities.”

Ban said “the most promising prospect of a cease-fire” is an Egyptian initiative to return to the cessation of fighting in November 2012 that has been endorsed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Arab League — but not Hamas.

The U.N. chief stressed, however, that a cease-fire without addressing the root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will only delay the problem for yet another time.

“The cycle will continue — except the bitterness and hatred will become that much more entrenched each time it comes around,” Ban said. “Quite simply, if a people are left with despair and occupation, the problem won’t disappear, it will only grow.”

Egypt’s U.N. Ambassador Mootaz Khalil urged acceptance of the Egyptian initiative and condemned Israel’s disproportionate use of force, saying: “The Torah mandates an eye for an eye. It never dreamed a hundred eyes for only one.”

“We hope our common efforts will result in an immediate cease-fire followed by negotiations to address the root causes of this ever-repeating, never-ending conflict, first and foremost ending the illegal blockade” of Gaza crossings controlled by Israel, he said.

U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power told the council that “an immediate cease-fire could not be more urgent or more important” and stressed that the United States “will not rest” until the fighting ends and the underlying issues are resolved leading to a two-state solution.

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. ambassador, demanded to know what the Security Council is doing “to stop this bloodletting, to stop Israel’s atrocities” and uphold its responsibility to protect civilians.

He urged the council, which is often divided on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, to adopt a resolution demanding an end to the fighting.

“Without decisive action, the council’s resolutions and statements ring hollow as defenseless civilians find no relief from the murderous Israeli war machine,” he said.

The proposed resolution, backed by the Palestinians and their Arab and international supporters, was circulated to the 15 council members later Tuesday, the Palestinians said.

The draft, obtained by The Associated Press, calls for “an immediate, durable and fully respected cease-fire, including the withdrawal of Israeli occupying forces from the Gaza Strip.”

It urges support for the Egyptian cease-fire initiative and calls for “the sustained reopening” of crossing points into Gaza based on a 2005 agreement. It condemns violence against civilians and calls for “all necessary measures” to protect civilians including the “immediate cessation of military reprisals, collective punishment and excessive use of force against the Palestinian civilian population.”

The resolution faces an uphill struggle winning approval from the United States, Israel’s closest ally and a veto-wielding council member, especially because it makes no mention of Hamas or its rocketing of Israel.

Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said a senior Foreign Ministry official is in the region and plans to hold talks with the Israelis, Palestinians and U.N. He said Russia is ready to consider an Arab-supported resolution.